The Qingdao municipal government will offer direct subsidies totaling nearly100 million yuan (US$16 million) to all public and generalized private kindergartens this year, the city's Party chief Li Qun said.

Li said the government attaches great importance to residents' happiness and listens carefully to their feedback.

In addition, the municipal government is set to land unprecedented financial support to build a boarding high school covering an area of 1.8 million square meters. Construction on the school is due to get underway this year.